Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(87)

 

Remorse twisted through him with the sharp sting of a paper cut. He should’ve pushed Kelsey to get them all together before this big party. He’d been so consumed with his own discomfort, he hadn’t given much thought to hers, or theirs, until that moment.

 

As they breezed past the dining room, he looked longingly at the makeshift bar.

 

“Let’s say hi to my folks, first,” Kelsey said when she noticed him hesitate. “Then you can run back here for liquid courage.”

 

“I don’t need courage,” he grumbled. Yet his mouth did feel damn dry.

 

At the far corner of the living room, just beyond the archway, Mr. and Mrs. Callihan stood, surrounded by several older people. Mrs. Callihan, an attractive blonde like her daughters, was telling a story when Mr. Callihan glanced over and noticed Trip and Kelsey’s arrival. Although Trip had met the man months ago at Kelsey’s birthday dinner, his broad chest and dark brows looked more menacing than Trip recalled.

 

The older man’s faltering smile suggested he was almost as uncomfortable greeting Trip as Trip felt about seeing him. And now both had to playact in front of an audience.

 

The swelling pressure at the base of Trip’s skull intensified with each step toward the group until Kelsey grabbed his hand and squeezed. Like a warm bath after a cold day on the slopes, her gentle touch soothed.

 

When they reached the circle of adults, Kelsey excused their intrusion before hugging her parents. “Congratulations, Mom and Dad. You set a high bar for the rest of us.”

 

Trip maintained a friendly smile despite being raked by a dozen curious eyes. He extended the bouquet toward Mrs. Callihan. “Happy anniversary, Mrs. Callihan.”

 

Unlike Kelsey’s dad, her mother’s natural warmth shone through her stilted demeanor as she accepted his small gift. “Thank you. It’s nice to see you again.”

 

“You, too. You look lovely tonight.” Trip then turned and extended his hand toward Kelsey’s dad. “Mr. Callihan, congratulations.”

 

Mr. Callihan’s tight-lipped expression and firm handshake confirmed Trip’s suspicions. The man didn’t trust him. In fact, he probably resented the hell out of him, considering Kelsey was knocked up and Trip hadn’t proposed.

 

“Trip,” Kelsey began, in a valiant effort to act perfectly normal, “this is my Aunt Winnie and Uncle Lou, my parents’ neighbors, Jim and Sally, and my dad’s longtime colleague and his wife, Bill and Pat. Everyone, this is Trip.”

 

Trip shook everyone’s hands, then snaked an arm around Kelsey’s waist and braced for a bunch of questions.

 

“Nice to meet you, son.” Uncle Lou sipped what appeared to be whiskey. “So where are you from?”

 

“I grew up in Denver, then spent my twenties working in various resorts across the northwest up to Alaska.”

 

Jim interrupted, “Our son, Tim, worked at Alyeska in 2010 and 2011. Know him?”

 

Seriously? “I actually worked for a heli-ski outfit up there, not at a resort. I was already gone by 2011, sorry.”

 

“Surely you won’t do that dangerous kind of skiing now, with the baby coming?” Kelsey’s aunt asked once she’d quit gaping.

 

Mr. Callihan’s gaze homed in on Trip, making him wish he’d stopped at the bar before facing his executioners. Perhaps it was better to address the elephant in the room sooner rather than later. But the nervous cone of silence that enveloped their little group pushed him center stage, transforming him into a young kid who suddenly forgot all the lines of the school play.

 

Mrs. Callihan tossed a perturbed glance at Aunt Winnie.

 

Kelsey gently rubbed Trip’s back, reassuring him while pleasantly smiling at the group. Hell, if she could brazen through, so could he. After clearing his throat, he finally replied, “Gotta work so I can help support Kelsey and our baby.”

 

“Don’t mind Winnie.” Uncle Lou swirled his glass, ice cubes clinking against its sides. “She’s just looking out for her niece, and eager for any excuse to talk about babies . . . and weddings.”

 

Trip hadn’t noticed his ever-tightening hold on Kelsey’s waist until she wedged her thumb inside his grip. “Uncle Lou, we’re here to celebrate Mom and Dad, not talk about me. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we haven’t had a chance to say hi to Bill, or grab any of the yummy apps.”

 

Thank God she’d rescued him.

 

Weddings!

 

Winnie’s remark made a total of two unwed pregnancy comments within ten minutes of his arrival. He’d expected a couple of unsubtle hints, considering they were attending a milestone anniversary party. But at this rate, he’d be tarred and feathered by eight o’clock.